Payout agreed for tormented principal

A former school principal who said he developed post-traumatic stress disorder because of violence at school and unsafe working conditions has won his battle for compensation.

The Department of Education yesterday agreed to settle a claim by Clifford Preece, 53, who was the principal of Punchbowl Boys' High School from 1995 to 1999 and suffered a nervous breakdown in 2000.

The District Court had heard that he endured incidents including having a gun held to his head and a knife attack on school premises during his tenure.

The settlement came after the current deputy principal of the school yesterday gave evidence that she had been the victim of attacks including vandalism of her car, her office and the house where she was staying.

"I'm very relieved," Mr Preece said outside the court. "It's not just been this week in court here, it's been nearly four years."

While the amount of the settlement was not revealed, education and legal sources estimated it would be at least $600,000. Mr Preece had reportedly sought $750,000.

In his statement of claim, Mr Preece said the department failed to provide proper security at the school. After the settlement, Mr Preece said he hoped education authorities would learn a lesson and adequately fund schools in need.

Mr Preece said he harboured no ill feelings towards his old school or its students.

"My only thought about the difficult pupils at that school is that it upsets me to observe their demise later in life. We could have done a lot for some of those kids."

The current deputy principal of the school, Susie Mobayed, earlier gave evidence that she had been subjected to a number of attacks, starting in 2001.

She said the windows of her office had been smashed "five or six times in two or three weeks" and her car was regularly vandalised when parked near school grounds.

Ms Mobayed said a house where she was staying was repeatedly pelted with food.